Olympians, Eagles Fans Celebrate Super Bowl Halfway Around the World

NBC10's Keith Jones is in PyeongChang, South Korea ahead of the Olympics. He watched the Eagles victory unfold with the Olympians and the media who are awaiting the opening ceremonies later in the week.

(Published Monday, Feb. 5, 2018)

Forced to retire from the NFL in September, former Eagles long snapper Jon Dorenbos was there with his teammates at Super Bowl LII. Even better, owner Jeffrey Lurie will reward Dorenbos for his 12 seasons of service the best way imaginable - with a ring.

The Eagles actually traded Dorenbos to the Saints at the conclusion of training camp, but his physical revealed an aortic aneurysm. The 37-year-old needed immediate heart surgery that would end his football career.

Despite playing the most obscure position, Dorenbos was always extremely popular with Eagles fans and among those in the organization. So when Lurie had an opportunity to bring him back for the biggest game in franchise history, it was a no-brainer.

But Lurie would do one better, promising Dorenbos a Super Bowl ring if - ultimately when - the Eagles won.

"Had I played, I'd die," Dorenbos told the New Orleans Advocate. "If you can't play in it, this is the next best way to enjoy it. Mr. Lurie called me and said he wants me to be a part of it, said I was here a long time and he said, ‘We're going to win this, and you're going to get a ring.'"

Dorenbos' story just goes to show the constant talk of the Eagles' family-like atmosphere is genuine. Nobody was happy to see him traded. Obviously, everybody was concerned for Dorenbos' condition when the news broke, Lurie included.

Amazingly, that trade may have saved Dorenbos' life, and while he wasn't officially a member of the Eagles' first world championship team since 1960, he was there. And thanks to a tremendous gesture by Lurie, Dorenbos wound up with the greatest keepsake of all.